In short, guns designed for mass killings should not be made available to the general public. They belong only in the hands of police and the military.

Let it be stipulated that the Second Amendment protects the right to own guns. But the Supreme Court has ruled that reasonable regulations also are constitutional.

For instance, it’s reasonable to assume that these sorts of restrictions would be allowed, The New York Times reported:

- Background checks.

- Enhanced reporting of mental health issues.

- Banning large ammunition clips.

- Bans on carrying firearms in sensitive places, such as schools.

- Conditions for the commercial sale of arms.

- Bans on “dangerous and unusual” weapons, such as military-style ones.

Thus, the main hurdles to better regulations are political, not constitutional.

Some defenders of the Second Amendment may say that it is hypocritical for a newspaper that profits from the First Amendment to call for restrictions on the Second Amendment.

But there are restrictions on free speech. You can’t shout fire in a crowded theater. Laws protect citizens from spreading lies that harm their reputations.

We have some consensusSo let’s start with firearm restrictions that are widely accepted, then move on to more controversial issues.

First, we can start by enforcing gun control laws that are already on the books. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms needs beefing up, according to a 2009 report from Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Second, we can pass laws that have broad support. A scientific poll of members of the National Rifle Association showed that 82 percent of them support prohibiting suspected terrorists from buying guys. And 69 percent of NRA members support background checks for all gun sales and gun shows.

“NRA members and gun owners support an approach that protects personal freedom and security,” reported the poll done for Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Now background checks are required when guns are bought from stores.

Sales must be denied to nine categories of people, such as felons, illegal immigrants, domestic violence assailants and those adjudicated as mentally ill.

Perhaps these categories should be expanded to include broader definitions of the mentally ill, for instance.

But background checks aren’t required for private sales among individuals or at gun shows, an exception so wide that the term “loophole” does not do it justice.

In 2007, more than 87,000 attempted gun purchases were blocked; 60 percent of the blocked purchasers were felons. Those denials, however, aren’t always communicated to local and state law enforcement.

Better police workThere needs to be better sharing of information among police agencies regarding dangerous people and those trying to obtain guns.

Before a Virginia Tech student killed 32 and wounded 17 in 2007, he had been judged mentally ill, but that information was not in the FBI database.

In fact, most people who fail the background check usually have committed a federal felony by supplying false information, but in 2005, only 135 cases were prosecuted.